Nursing students’ metaphors of organ donation: Implications for health education

ICU clinicians are primarily involved in organ donation after brain death of ICU patients. Their perceptions of organ donation may affect outcomes. Our objective was to describe ICU clinician's perceptions and experience of organ donation. Cross-sectional study among physicians and nurses (90 ICUs in France). We used factorial correspondence analysis to describe categories of clinicians regarding their perceptions and experience of organ donation. Factors associated with a positive (motivating) or negative (stressful) experiences were studied using multivariate logistic regression. Physicians and nurses. Three thousand three hundred twenty-five clinicians working in 77 ICUs returned questionnaires. Professionals who experienced organ donation as motivating were younger (odds ratio, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.32-0.53; p < 0.001), more often potential organ donors (odds ratio, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.56-2.35; p < 0.001), less likely to describe inconsistency (odds ratio, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.23-0.8) or complexity (odds ratio, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.45-0.67) of their feelings versus their professional activity, less likely to report that organ donation was not a priority in their ICU (odds ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.55-0.84), and more likely to have participated in meetings of transplant coordinators with relatives (odds ratio, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.37-2.14; p < 0.001). Professionals who felt organ donation was stressful were older (odds ratio, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.34-2.54; p < 0.001), less often physicians (odds ratio, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.44-0.77; p < 0.001), more likely to describe shift from curative care to organ donation as emotionally complex (odds ratio, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.52-2.21; p < 0.001), care of relatives of brain-dead patients as complex (odds ratio, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.32-1.93; p < 0.001), and inconsistency and complexity of personal feelings about organ donation versus professional activity (odds ratio, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.92-5.53; p < 0.001), and more likely to have little experience with caring for potential organ donors (odds ratio, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.09-2.04). Significant differences exist among ICU clinician's perceptions of organ donation. Whether these differences affect family experience and consent rates deserves investigation.

The aim of this study is to describe comparatively public awareness, attitudes and perceptions of organ donation and transplantation among Bulgarian and the European population, and to identify those practices and actions that can have positive impacts for Bulgaria. The methods in volve extensive content review of EU documentation and comparative data analysis of international publications containing figures on organ donation. Main source of information is representative data drawn from the Eurobarometer cross-national survey on organ donation. The comparative EU data on public aware ness, attitudes and perception of organ donation reveals large variations by country. Compared to the majority of the European population, the Bulgarian respondents express less supportive attitudes and less positive perceptions. Bulgarians are far less likely than the Europeans as a whole to agree to the donation of an organ from a deceased family member and to consent to own organs donation after death. They have substantially lower rates of family discussions about organ donation. The awareness of Bulgarian population of transplantation legal regulations is among the lowest in Europe. The results point to the need for Bulgaria to strengthen its international cooperation and exchange good practices with EU member states. It is important to establish effective communication to count on all the social factors included in the transplantation process. Efforts to encourage family discussions on organ donation; to educate health professionals, media and the public; and to build their confidence in the health system and the transplantation service would be of high potential for the country. These actions are all essential for future positive developments in organ donation and transplantation in Bulgaria. Scripta Scientifica Medica 2011;V.43(1):31-34

Organ donation is a medical and ethical issue shaped by faith, culture, and beliefs about death and the body. For nursing students, these beliefs intersect with their emerging professional identity, often generating tensions between personal convictions and professional duties. This study aimed to explore nursing students' perceptions of organ donation in Türkiye, focusing on the influence of faith, cultural values, and professional identity in shaping their decisions. We adopted a descriptive phenomenological design with focus-group interviews. Thirteen undergraduate nursing students from a foundation university participated in three online focus groups. Data were analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke's six-step framework, guided by COREQ standards. Two overarching themes were identified: (1) Organ Donation in Light of Personal Experiences and Values, which included family influence, spiritual and cultural beliefs, death anxiety, bodily integrity, and issues of justice and trust; and (2) Organ Donation in Light of Professional Identity and Education, reflecting the role of clinical experiences, ethical principles, and the challenge of reconciling personal beliefs with professional responsibilities. While many students valued organ donation as an altruistic act, religious and cultural concerns contributed to hesitation, especially in decisions involving family members. Nursing students' perspectives on organ donation emerge at the intersection of faith, culture, and professional identity. Incorporating religious and cultural dimensions into nursing curricula, alongside ethics-based education and reflective practice, may strengthen students' ability to integrate personal beliefs with professional duties and promote organ donation more effectively.

ABSTRACTFive focus groups were conducted to better understand African-American adults’ (N = 62) perceptions of organ donation. Applying the health belief model, results revealed that participants generally were aware of the need for organ donors and felt susceptible to needing a transplant in the future. Additionally, the number of perceived barriers greatly outweighed the number of perceived benefits to organ donation. Several novel barriers to organ donation, not currently identified in the literature, arose during focus group discussions, alluding to a larger source of mistrust among African-Americans. In respect to self-efficacy, participants’ responses further delineated the distinction between task and decisional efficacy. The results are discussed with an emphasis on how the current findings compare and contrast with previous work, as well as a focus on the practical implications for targeted organ donation campaigns aimed at African-American communities.

In this study, we explored older rural South African adults’ perceptions of organ donation. Twelve older Pedi adults (male = 50%; age range 51 to 78 years) completed in-depth interviews on their knowledge of organ donation, cultural views, and influences on their orientation to the medical practice. Four themes emerged from the data synthesis: (i) organ donation regarded as body part harvesting; (ii) organ donation as a taboo practice; (iii) organ donation interfering with closure and spirituality; and (iv) the centrality of family in the decision making on health and life matters. The cultural lens rooted in family and spiritual futures is central to older black Pedi adults’ understanding of organ donation. Organ donation education and awareness campaigns should engage community leaders in bridging the cultural divide that may discourage people from participating in this beneficial practice.

Reluctance of families of deceased donors to provide approval for donation is a factor in low rates of deceased donor organ transplants. Decisions of women may be important for family approval. We investigated the influence of knowledge and beliefs of housewives on attitudes toward organ donation. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 212 housewives attending Directorate of Religious Affairs centers and public education centers in Adana province between May and June 2018. A structured questionnaire to assess sociode-mographic information, knowledge, and beliefs about organ donation, as well as the Attitudes Toward Organ Donation Scale, was applied through face-to-face interviews. Mean age of participants was 42.9 ± 13.1 years, 68 (32.1%) had no formal education, and 125 women (59.0%) identified as low income. Of the women, 40 (18.9%) were single, 147 (69.3%) were married, 25 (11.8%) were divorced∕widowed, 104 (49.1%) were attending religious affairs centers, and 108 (50.9%) were attending public education centers. Mean score for the question "What is the religious drawback of donating organs?" was significantly higher in participants attending a Quran course (2.5 ± 1.4), and mean score of Attitudes Toward Organ Donation Scale decreased significantly as mean score for this question increased; the score for "Are you aware that the organ donation-related procedures are conducted within the law?" was 2.2 ± 1.2 (P < .001). Scores increased as knowledge level increased (r = 0.360, P < .001), and scores decreased as perception of organ donation as religiously objectionable increased (r = -0.258, P < .001). Participants with sufficient knowledge about organ donation, without religious objection to organ donation, and with awareness of the lawful status of organ donation had positive attitudes toward organ donation. Efforts toward improvement of community knowledge could increase rates of deceased donor organ donation.

Organ donation in Palestine is influenced by a unique blend of legal, religious, and socioeconomic factors compounded by the region's political and economic instability. Despite the increasing need for organ transplantation, public hesitation and misconceptions hinder participation. This study aimed to explore these dynamics, identify barriers, and provide insights into improving organ donation practices in Palestine. A quantitative survey was conducted among 639 Palestinian adults residing on the West Bank. The survey assessed participants' attitudes, awareness, and perceptions of organ donation across three domains: religious/psychological, medical, and legal. The data were analyzed using chi-square tests and three-way ANOVA to explore differences in attitudes based on demographic factors such as sex, academic level, and place of residence. The study revealed significant variability in public attitudes toward organ donation, with 43.4% willing to donate organs after death but 30% still opposed. Religious and psychological awareness significantly influenced participants' attitudes, with 40.35% agreeing that organ donation aligns with their beliefs. Medical awareness was higher, with 48.8% feeling informed about the process. Legal awareness was moderate, with 44.85% understanding of the legal framework. The analysis showed no significant demographic differences in attitudes toward organ donation. Public awareness, religious beliefs, and socioeconomic conditions play crucial roles in shaping organ donation attitudes in Palestine. This study highlights the need for targeted educational campaigns that integrate religious perspectives and raise awareness about the legal and medical aspects of organ donation. Strengthening legal frameworks and healthcare infrastructure will be key to improving organ donation rates and ensuring ethical practices in the region.

Background: Organ donation is a process of retrieving an organ or tissue from a living or deceased doner and transplanting it to a recipient to save his life. Every year lakhs of patients are diagnosed with organ failure in this country; however, only 2–3% requirement is met and large number of patients die because lack of donated organs. Lack of awareness and motivation toward organ donation seems to be the major reason for the lack of supply of donated organ. Aims and Objectives: The present study was planned to assess the awareness and motivation toward organ donation among the support employees of a tertiary care medical organization. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 150 non-medical employees at a newly established teaching hospital at West Bengal. All the participants were individually approached for a face-to-face interview using a pre-structured and pre-validated questionnaire. The data were analyzed using Microsoft excel and Stata 12 software. Results: Among the study participants, 84.66% were aware about organ donation but only 36.66% expressed willingness for organ donation. The willingness was higher among male. The knowledge about organ donation was inadequate (mean knowledge score &lt;50%). There was strong positive co-relation between mean knowledge score and mean motivation score. Conclusion: The non-medical employees have inadequate knowledge regarding the facts and legislation of organ donation. Targeted and focused sessions about organ donation should be arranged for them to address the knowledge-gap.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Palestinian people relating to organ donation in 2016: a cross-sectional study

Aim of the study was to assess the knowledge regarding organ donation among 3rd year GNM nursing students. the research design used for this study is pre experimental (one group pre-test) design. to assess the knowledge and perception of organ donation among GNM students in selected schools of Nursing at Vijayapur. The tool used for the study is self-administered knowledge Questionnaire to assess the knowledge of GNM students regarding organ donation. Result: In the pretest, level of knowledge of 3rd year GNM students studying in school of Nursing Vijayapur before using Planned Education Programme. In that 33 (55.0 %) of 3rd year GNM students were having Inadequate knowledge, 24 (40.0%) having Moderate knowledge and 3 (5.0%) of 3rd year GNM students were having Adequate knowledge about Organ Donation. The finding showed that the mean post-test knowledge score of the subjects was 26.5 is higher than the mean pretest score of 16.3. The calculated?t? value obtained from paired?t? test was-31.6 (p-value<0.0001) the chi-square test was applied to check the association of socio-demographic variables with knowledge scores showed that Age (in years), Religion, Type of family, Place of residence were no significant. Interpretation and conclusion: The result of the study showed that, there was a significant improvement obtained following PEP on Organ Donation. This study enlightens that there is an immense need for educational programme in school of nursing to improve the knowledge of 3rd year GNM students regarding Organ Donation.

Despite the fact that college students support social causes, this age group has underparticipated in organ donor registration. Little research attention has been given to understanding deeper, higher-order relationships between the antecedent attitudes toward and perceptions of organ donation and registration behavior. To test a process model useful for understanding the sequential ordering of information necessary for moving college students along a hierarchical decision-making continuum from awareness to support to organ donor registration. The University of Wisconsin organ procurement organization collaborated with the Collegiate American Marketing Association on a 2-year grant funded by the US Health Resources and Services Administration. A total of 981 association members responded to an online questionnaire. The 5 antecedent measures were awareness of organ donation, need acknowledgment, benefits of organ donation, social support, and concerns about organ donation. The 2 consequence variables were support for organ donation and organ donation registration. Structural equation modeling indicated that 5 of 10 direct antecedent pathways led significantly into organ donation support and registration. The impact of the nonsignificant variables was captured via indirect effects through other decision variables. Model fit statistics were good: the goodness of fit index was .998, the adjusted goodness of fit index was .992, and the root mean square error of approximation was .001. This sequential decision-making model provides insight into the need to enhance the acceptance of organ donation and organ donor registration through a series of communications to move people from awareness to behavior.

Introduction: Brazil has one of the largest transplant programs in the world; however, family refusal to donate, misinformation, cultural beliefs, and myths about brain death remain significant obstacles. In this context, the extension project entitled “Life: The show must go on,” carried out by the Academic League of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, seeks to directly address this issue through informative lectures and educational activities. Objective: The aim of the project was to raise awareness among students about the importance of organ donation. In addition to explaining the concept of brain death and its relationship with organ transplantation, the initiative seeks to dispel myths and misinformation that hinder public acceptance of organ donation. Furthermore, the project encourages discussions on the social impact and medical ethics of the subject and promotes informed decision-making regarding organ donation consent. Ultimately, it also aims to increase the number of organ donations in the project’s target region. Methods: The project consists of interactive and expository lectures conducted in schools and universities in the municipality of Barreiras-BA. During the presentations, anonymous surveys are conducted to assess the audience’s prior knowledge of organ donation. The topics are then addressed in an educational manner, clarifying doubts and providing scientific information based on national and international transplant and organ donation guidelines. Additionally, the protocols for determining brain death, as established by CFM Resolution No. 2.173/2017, are explained1. Lastly, informational materials are distributed to reinforce learning and encourage the dissemination of knowledge within the community. Expected results and discussion: In the first 6 months of 2023, approximately 1,900 organ donors were registered in Brazil, enabling more than 4,300 transplants, a record for the period. However, around 6,700 cases of brain death were recorded in the same year, and family refusal to donate reached 49%, an increase compared to previous years2. Thus, the project is expected to not only increase public awareness of the importance of organ donation but also reduce myths and taboos surrounding the topic. Family refusal to donate is often driven by misconceptions3. Additionally, the initiative aims to positively impact the decision-making process of potential donors and their families. Ultimately, the project seeks to increase organ donation rates from patients in a state of brain death. Conclusion: Health education plays a fundamental role in changing society’s perception of organ donation. The “Life: The show must go on” project directly addresses this issue, promoting knowledge and encouraging a more informed stance on the subject. By expanding activities and maintaining continuous engagement, the initiative aims to strengthen the culture of organ donation and, consequently, increase the number of donors in the western region of Bahia.

Background: Organ donation saves lives but India faces a major gap between demand and availability of donor organs. Contributing factors include low awareness, myths, cultural and religious beliefs, and limited legal knowledge. Understanding community perceptions is vital for effective health education and policy strategies to improve organ donation. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices related to organ donation among urban residents of Vijayapura, Karnataka and to identify the socio-demographic factors influencing these perceptions. Methods: A two-month cross-sectional study in an urban field practice area of North Karnataka included 299 randomly selected participants. Data were collected via a house-to-house survey using a semi-structured questionnaire on socio-demographics and organ donation. Analysis with SPSS v20 used Chi-square tests, considering p&lt;0.05 statistically significant. Results: Among 299 participants, awareness of organ donation was 72.2%, with eyes being the most recognized organ. Nearly half knew donation is possible from both living and deceased, but 65.2% were unaware of legal aspects. Though religion was not a major barrier, actual commitment was low, with only 34.8% willing to pledge and 10% registered. Knowledge was significantly associated with education and socio-economic status. Conclusions: The study showed moderate awareness of organ donation among North Karnataka residents but highlighted gaps in legal knowledge and commitment. Education and economic status influenced attitudes. Targeted awareness campaigns, community engagement, and educational interventions are essential to dispel myths, encourage pledging, and reduce the demand-supply gap.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant health problem associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Awareness of CKD in people is crucial to decrease mortality, morbidity, and complications. CKD can lead to end-stage renal failure that needs renal transplantation. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the awareness of chronic kidney disease and the community's perception of organ donation and renal transplantation. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 503 Saudi adults between June and September 2022 in Riyadh Province of Saudi Arabia. We distributed online self-administered questionnaires among the general adult population utilizing convenient sampling. Results: Most of the participants had university degrees (67.2%). Of the total, 40.6%, 24.5% and 29.2% of participants knew that painkillers, hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are risk factors for CKD, respectively. A significant relationship was observed between knowledge about risk factors of CKD and educational level (p&lt;0.05), but an insignificant relation with gender (p&gt;0.05). Most of the participants (53.3%) supported organ donation, and a significant relationship was observed with the gender and educational level of participants (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: The current study showed low awareness of CKD and poor knowledge about kidney transplantation and organ donation in the community of Saudi Arabia. Mass media and campaigns can be central in raising awareness about CKD and organ donation to help facilitate disease identification and prevention. Keywords: Chronic renal disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, attitude

Posthumous organ donation attitudes, intentions to donate, and organ donor status: Examining the role of the big five personality dimensions and altruism